The contact owns a 2016 Buick Regal. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost power steering functionality and the vehicle became difficult to steer. The contact stated that the failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
Buick Regal power steering loss problems
61 of the 2,973 owner complaints about the Buick Regal describe loss of power steering, most of them for the 1998 model year.
- owner complaints
- 61
- worst model year
- 1998
- typical mileage
- 73,500
Is there a fix? There are 4 recalls for this area of the car. See below
By model year
Often reported together
Loss of power 21Stalling 10ABS 4Warning lights 3Steering lock-up 3Engine failure 3Check engine light 3Brake failure 3
Trouble codes mentioned
P0010 1
What owners say
While driving down the highway at 60 mph with myself my husband and my 7 year old son my steering wheel locked up and then jolted very hard to the left. Got the car pulled to side of the road the power assist warning started flashing this all happened Saturday October 22, 2022. It had never happened before turned the car off and checked fluids they were filled to where they needed to be started the car it was just fine. This morning on October 24 2022 my husband headed to work driving 55 and again the steering wheel locked and power steering assist appeared. I have not gotten this checked but very scared to drive with my son in the car as this could cause a very bad accident and no other problems with the car. I called Buick October 25, 2022 they said this model did have a recall but my VIN number was not one included in the power steering assist recall.
Driving on the highway and abs, stabltrack and steering lights came on. This is the third time in 2 years that a wheel bearing failed on this vehicle. A magnet ring in the wheel bearing that sensors wheel speed failed and fractured causing a loss of power steering, abs, and traction control.
Car lost all electrical power while driving (moving) and fully shut down, stalling immediately. Nothing electrical worked, including 4 way flashers. The alternator was just replaced 2 weeks after this same full loss of electrical power was diagnosed when going to start the car while parked. The battery was fully recharged at the repair shop and deemed ok. I had my road service come out to address the issue. Before they arrived, I was able to restart the car. The service tech checked the battery and alternator. Both checked ok, but the battery was almost drained and did not show signs of any dead cells, despite it having been able to restart the car shortly before the road service arrived. We replaced the battery. Car is in the shop now. The safety risk is full loss of power while moving resulting in no brake lights, 4 way emergency lights, full stall, loss of power steering and brakes that can lead to a collision on the highway. This type of problem has been reported on numerous Regals
2014 Buick Regal GS AWD sedan, second owner. Car was purchased as a certified used from Buick dealer in 2018 with 40,xxx miles. Car now has 137,xxx miles, no longer under extended warranty. Have had all regular maintenance done and have records. Aside from normal wear and tear, no prior issues with car. Car engine suddenly started to run rough, Check Engine light came on while driving 65 mph, sudden loss of engine power and car died on the highway causing congestion and vehicles to swerve on highway, loss of steering control, pulled over. Car was able to be restarted but running rough, engine light on, severe reduction in power. Talked with nearest dealer, they said to not drive car. Had local GM mechanic do inspection, computer codes indicated loss of compression on cylinder 3, misfire. Compression check and bore inspection indicated loss of compression on cylinder 3, valve failure/damage, oil in the turbo, requiring complete rebuild or replacement engine and turbo. Review of TSB from GM indicated this is a known issue, engine to be replaced.
While exiting an interstate on a sharp curve failed to respond. No warning lights appeared. When applying brake steering began to respond. Contacted dealer service department charlie obaugh staunton virginia. Vehicle is not on recall list. Problem appears to be similar to 2016 steering recall. Dealership did not offer remedy for problem. This is definitely a safety issue losing steering while in motion. What options do we have
Driving my car at around 30mph, the car completely shuts off without warning. There is no shutter or sound. It is just suddenly completely turned off. No brakes. No power steering. No gas. You must pull the car over. Come to a complete stop. Put the car in park. Turn the key completely off, and then the car will restart almost every time. This has happened to me 5 times in the 9 years that I have owned it. But it has happened 3 times in the last 3 days. No mechanic nor the dealer can identify the problem. I have replaced the serpentine belt twice, and the throttle body/throttle position sensor.
Power steering randomly fails while driving. This happened while turning into a parking space, on residential street and the expressway. The car has been at the dealership 4 times since june 3 for the same issue. The first time the following repairs were performed: replaced complete rack & pinion gear with power steering control module reinstalled, download for power steering module. Did not fix the problem. Second time the following repairs were performed: downloaded power steering control module before replacing module. Replaced rack & pinion, re-download power steering control module. This did not fix the problem. In addition to the power steering failing, the car also shut off twice, once while in park and the second time while in drive at an intersection. Third time the car was at the dealership a configuration error fault code in pscm was found. Following repairs were performed: reset steering angle sensor values, several times. Power steering went out, took the car back to the dealership. The fourth time the scan test only showed a radio code, u150k 00 (there is nothing wrong with the radio). The dealership test drove the car for 66 miles and could not get the car to mimic the steering problem. Because a lack of steering light and couldn't mimic the problem, no repairs were made.
Vehicle was being driven off of main highway into a shopping center parking lot when the engine shut off causing the vehicle to lose power steering and brakes. Vehicle would not restart and needed to be towed to lester glenn buick that night. The next day after sitting in the dealership parking lot, the vehicle was able to start and the dealership stated they were"unable to duplicate the problem" and found nothing wrong with the vehicle. I presently own two(2) 2011 buick regal and both have experienced this same problem with loss of steering and braking. I have contacted g m numerous times and have received no calls back from their "senior " adviser. Have also read about similar complaints on the internet with these vehicles. Hopefully g m will address this serious safety issue before someone gets seriously hurt
Vehicle has 69,579 miles. While turning onto side street off of main road, engine shut off causing loss of power steering and brakes. Vehicle was able to be restarted after a minute and driven home. Vehicle was taken to lester glenn buick dealership for this problem . The dealership was "unable to duplicate the problem" and there were no codes showing a problem. I was told that the issue was that the vehicle was 100 miles overdue for and oil change and was a little low on oil. When I questioned this I was told it is a "safety feature" to protect the engine from damage because of low oil. I asked if it was a "safety feature" than why was my son able to restart the vehicle within a minute. Still have not received an answer. I have made numerous calls to g m about this issue but all I have gotten were two calls to my house phone when I was not home when I specifically left my cell phone number to be called. I have called an additional three times and left a message for a senior adjuster to call me back and still have not received a response. As luck would have it, I own two 2011 buick regals and my daughters car is experiencing the same issues, but that will be listed as another complaint . Appears to be multiple issues on the internet with this same concern, but nothing seems to get done
Related recalls
Steering: electric power assist system
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Buick Regal Vehicles manufactured August 30, 2015, to February 12, 2016. The affected vehicles have a power-steering assist system that may fail.
- Risk
- A loss of power steering assist may increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the electric belt drive rack and pinion steering gear assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300. GM's number for this recall is 21510.
Recall number 16V108000 · Recall details
Steering
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro and Chevrolet Impala vehicles. Improperly torqued fasteners may cause the steering intermediate shaft and the steering gear and/or the lower control arm and the lower ball joint to separate.
- Risk
- If any of the components separate, the vehicle may have a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- GM began to notify owners on June 27, 2014, and dealers will inspect the fasteners for correct torque, correcting them as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300 (Buick), 1‑800‑458‑8006 (Cadillac) or 1‑800‑222‑1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14378.
Recall number 14V409000 · Recall details
Steering: rack and pinion
- What is wrong
- Certain passenger vehicles have lower pinion bearings in the power rack and pinion assembly in which the retainer tabs were not crimped properly. These retainers could fail and permit the ball bearings to escape.
- Risk
- If this occurs, the pinion shaft can be forced upward during left turns and back down as the steering wheel is moved back and to the right. If the pinion shaft moves further, the driver will need to exert more effort to turn the steering wheel, similar to a vehicle without power assisted steering. If the pinion shaft moves even further, the driver will require much higher effort to turn left and may not be able to turn the wheel as much as intended. With the maximum pinion shaft movement, which requires internal gear component damage, the driver can encounter high resistance to turning left, followed by unintended power assist to the right. In any of these conditions, a crash could occur.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a new lower pinion bearing unless inspect of the existing bearing indicates that replacement of the gear assembly is necessary. Owner notification began on february 5, 2004. Owners should contact buick at 1‑866‑608‑8080; chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438; oldsmobile at 1‑800‑630‑6537; or pontiac at 1‑800‑620‑7668.
Recall number 03V527000 · Recall details
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar
- What is wrong
- The four (4) steering column support bracket attaching bolts were under torqued during assembly.
- Risk
- Inadequate torque can cause these bolts to vibrate, loosen, or fall out resulting in loss of steering control and increase the potential for a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will retorque the steering column support bracket attaching bolts to the correct specifications.
Recall number 95V030000 · Recall details
Questions about the Buick Regal power steering loss
Which Buick Regal years have loss of power steering problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1998 (9 complaints), 2011 (9 complaints) and 1999 (6 complaints).
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